July 13, 2020 10.53 am This story is over 44 months old

Peaceful, but smaller second BLM protest in Cleethorpes

Organisers said around 80 people attended
The event organiser said around 80 people attended the Black Lives Matter protest in Cleethorpes on July 12. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Around 80 people gathered for the second Black Lives Matter protest in Cleethorpes on Sunday and organisers hope to plan further marches in other areas of Lincolnshire.

The first march in the coastal town on June 13 was largely peaceful, but police did have to intervene by keeping away an opposing smaller group and even had to pepper-spray them to get them to back off.

The latest protest on July 12 was attended by significantly fewer people than the first protest, but organisers were still happy with the turnout and said the event went smoothly and without trouble.

Hope Not Hate North East Lincolnshire gathered at Lakeside Car Park for the protest. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The group gathered for the second Black Lives Matter Protest in Cleethorpes this summer. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The newly-renamed Hope Not Hate North East Lincolnshire gathered at Lakeside Car Park for the second protest at 3pm after feeling their voices hadn’t been listened to enough.

Group founder Brian Milne told Lincolnshire Reporter that an hour before the protest police called him to ask that they march to Cleethorpes Boating Lake, where an area had been coned off for them, instead of to Brighton slipway.

A group opposing the protest had threatened to “stick them on the beach again”, who Brian heard had met at The Wellow pub so they avoided that area.

The group wanted to make their voices heard again. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The group stood up for a cause it firmly believes in at the Black Lives Matter protest in Cleethorpes on July 12. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Brian said there was a smaller police presence than expected, but was happy that the event stayed peaceful.

He said: “Some were scared off from attending by the fear of the counter protest and two that were meant to give speeches didn’t because of it.

“The protest went really well and there was a lot of positivity there. Someone from the Lincoln march team spoke as did a local business owner and we had around eight speeches, with the key point of wanting racism to stop in the town.”

The event organiser said the protest went really well and there was a lot of positivity there. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

He added that the group is planning further protests in the future in Brigg, Market Rasen and Scunthorpe.

The group is also in the process of setting up an education team and getting them DBS checks so they can go into schools, colleges and universities to give speeches about the issue of racism.

Paul Anderson, Assistant Chief Constable at Humberside Police, said: “I am pleased to say that the weekend’s protests in Hull and Cleethorpes were both peaceful. I would like to say thank you to the event organisers and those that attended for protesting peacefully.”

The group are trying to stamp out racism in the Lincolnshire town. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

It wasn’t as busy as the first protest, but organisers were still happy with the turnout. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

“Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere”. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

People held up their key messages as they marched at the Black Lives Matter protest in Cleethorpes. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Hope Not Hate North East Lincolnshire marching to make their voices heard at the Black Lives Matter Protest in Cleethorpes. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

People gathering ready for the march at the Black Lives Matter protest in Cleethorpes. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Another of the speakers at the event. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

There were around eight speeches at the BLM protest in Cleethorpes on July 12. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Speaking out about issues of racism. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The event was organised by Hope Not Hate North East Lincolnshire. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

People gathered ahead of the Black Lives Matter protest in Cleethorpes. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter